Totalizer aligning mechanism for cash registers, accounting
and like machines



3,249,299 COUNTING H. SCHAAF May 3, 1966 TOTALIZER ALIGNING MECHANISMFOR CASH REGISTERS, AC

AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Nov. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG..|

HIS ATTORNEYS May 3, 1966 H. S TOTALIZER ALIGNING MECHANISM AND LIKEMACH CH F 3 ASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING INES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.19, 1963 INVENTOR HEINRICH SCHAAF M HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3249 299 TOTALIZER ALIGNING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS, ACCOUNTING ANDLIKE MACHINES Heinrich Schaaf, Stadtbergen, near Augsburg, Germany,assignor to The National Cash Register Company,

Dayton, Ohio, acorporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No.324,723 1 Claim. (Cl. 235130) This invent-ion relates to improvedmechanism for aligning totalizcr pinions or wheels having approximatelythe same diameter and mounted on a common shaft, but having .a differentnumber and/or shape of teeth as the accurate handling of numerouscurrencies requires. One example of such a varying totalizcr pinionrequirement is known for sterling currency, where the pence order ofcurrency count has need for a totalizcr .pinion having twelve teethwhile the next adjacent and higher order of currency count (shillings)has need for a totalizcr pinion having but ten teeth. With this in mind,it is clear that machines of the present class adapted to handlesterling currency must have both decimal and duodecimal wheels orpinions in the overall makeup of the totalizer employed.

In hitherto practice, special aligners of relatively complicated shapeand operation have normally been used for machines having both decimaland duodecimal pinions in the one totalizcr, whereas entirely differentand much more simplified aligners have normally been used in machineshaving decimal pinions only in the one totalizcr. That is, in normalpractice the totalizcr pinion aligners employed for pure decimalmachines cannot be applied to machines of the decimal and duodecimaltype, and vice versa. Contrary to this known and universally followedspecialization in totalizcr construction, where entirely differentpinion aligners have to be used for machines of the decimal type and formachines of the decimal and duodecimal type, the present inventionprovides a unique arrangement where one and the same totalizcr alignercan be used for either one and both types of such machinesthat is,employed universally for aligning either one or both decimal andduodecimal pinions, each as the particular makeup of the individualmachine embodying same requires. This, in essence, is the primary objectof the instant invention.

A further object of the instant invention resides in providing such aninterchangeable totalizcr pinion aligner of an extremely simplifiedconstruction, being a unitary member appropriately formed so as toautomatically align each and every duodecimal pinion and/or each andevery decimal pinion provided along a common totalizcr shaft.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includesprecise features of construction which, in conjunction with knowncombinations of operating parts, is hereinafter described with referenceto the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cash register or like machineembodying the instant invent-ion, with parts of the right side wall ofthe machine cabinet brokenaway at those zones of machine elementsconsidered important to a complete understanding of the now presentedapplication;

FIG. 2 is a view in section, as seen from the right, of a typicaltotalizcr mechanism employing the instant invention, illustrating adecimal pinion of such mechanism in its normal, aligned position;

FIG. 3 is a further view in section, as seen from the right, of thetotalizcr mechanism of FIG. 2, but illustrating such decimal pinionthereof as shifted to its differential engaging position;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation of an upper fragmentary portion ofthe totalizcr mechanism of FIG. 2, illustrating both decimal andduodecimal pinions thereof as associated with the instant invention, andincluding each of the differential racks associated therewith; and

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the instant invention asoperated for simultaneously aligning both decimal and duodecimaltotalize-r pinions.

General machine description As shown in FIG. 1, the cash register chosento illustrate the present invention is housed in a suit-able cabinet 10and has, extending through such cabinet 10, the usual keyboard 11 havinga plurality of rows of amount entry keys 12, at least one row oftransaction keys 13, and a motor bar 14. Although not illustratedherein, the frame work of such machine includes a base member supportinga pair of upstanding right and left side frames, within which isjournaled a main cam line 15. As is known, machine cycling is throughdepression of the motor bar 14 whenever certain types of machineoperations are to General totalizcrarrangement and mode of operation Forthe purpose of the present disclosure, the totalizcr unit 16 includes inits makeup both decimal pinions 17 and duodecimal pinions 18, mounted ina spaced relationship one from the other along a common shaft 19 (FIG.4). This overall arrangement, it should be understood, is merely for thesake of disclosure purposes since the particular aligner constitutingthe instant invention may, in addition to such arrangement, be likewiseeffective for handling either decimal or duodecimal pinions solely alongsuch shaft 19. As is known, each of the totalizcr pinions 17 and 18 ofsuch shaft 19 is aligned with an associated diiferential actuator rack20 and 21 respectively, which, during machine operation, are caused tobe set at precise digit entering positions corresponding to the amountentry keys 12 previously depressed. In each instance, as can beunderstood from FIG. 2, the totalizcr pinions 17 and 18 aligned withsuch actuator racks 20 and 21 are normally maintained out of engagementtherewith, and, when so directed by associated totalizcr engaging anddisengaging mechanism (not shown herein), are caused to be shifted intoengagement therewith at and for a precise time during machine operationfor entering digit amounts thereto in the above instance (as set up onthe amount entry keys 12) or removing accumulated amounts therefrom(either under control of a unit lock lever 9 in conjunction with themotor bar 14 or under control of selected ones of the transaction keys13). As is clear from FIG. 2, the pinion carrying shaft 19 is mounted inthe overall totalizer unit 16 for up-and-down (vertical) shiftingmovement to engage and disengage the totalizcr pinions 17 and 18 thereofwith and from the associated actuator racks 20 and 21. The actuatorracks20 and 21 themselves of course are of that overall numberconforming to the capacity of the machine carrying same, and are mountedfor substantially horizontal shifting movement during each machine cycleof operation.

Journaled between the above-mentioned right and left side framesincluded in the general framework of the instant machine is a totalizcrengaging shaft 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Pinned to each end of such shaft 22,in the vicinity of the right and left side frames, is an actuating arm23 which, in conjunction with a further arm 24 connected thereto by wayof a rock shaft 25, forms what may be called a toggle lever for liftingand lowering the totalizer pinions 17 and 18 in to and out of engagementwiththeir associated differential actuator racks. Although notillustrated in such FIGS. 2 and 3, the rock shaft 25 extends along thefull length of the pinion shaft 19 so as to interconnect the severalsets of arms 23 and 24that is, each set mounted adjacent the machineframework right and left side frames. Each of the further arms 24 ofsuch toggle lever construction are rotatatably mounted on a totalizershifting shaft 26, which in turn extends between a pair of spaced-apartouter totalizer frame 27one again in the vicinity of each of theframework right and left side frames. It is the upper end portions ofsuch spaced-apart outer totalizer frames 27 which support the pinioncarrying shaft 19 mentioned above with respect to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower ends of such totalizer frames 27 arebifurcated and engage over the totalizer engaging shaft 22. Although notillustrated herein, the upper ends of such totalizer frames 27 areslidably mounted in appropriate guides maintaining same continuallyvertically but permitting same to be shifted with respect to theengaging shaft 22. Adjacent each of such outer totalizer frames 27 is aninner totalizer frame 28 likewise having its lowerend bifurcated forembracing the totalizer engaging shaft 22 and having, spaced thereabove,an elongated slot 28a through which the totalizer shifting shaft 26slidingly extends. An oblique slot 28b in each of such inner totalizerframes 28 has slidingly mounted therein the rock shaft 25 mentionedabove, so that, whenever the totalizer engaging shaft 22 is caused to berocked counter-clockwise from its position of FIG. 2 to its position ofFIG. 3, the straightening of the toggle lever (consisting of arms 23 and24) thereby shifts the outer ttalizer frames 27 in an upward directionunder control of the interconnected shifting shaft 26 being then movedupwardly within the slots 28a of the inner totalizer frames 28. Suchshifting of the outer totalizer frames 27 of course carries the shaft 19therewith, whereby the various pinions 17 and 18 thereof enter intoengagement with the associated differential actuator racks 20 and 21(FIG. 3). The timing at which such totalizer engaging shaft 22 is sorocked counter-clockwise is, as is known, dependent upon the type ofmachine operation being performed. Return rocking of the engaging shaft22 to home (FIG.

. 2) disengages such pinions 17 and 18 from the differential racksallbeing done through lowering the outer totalizer frames 27 in a mannerreverse to that just described for raising such frames 27. While theprecise means for rocking the totalizer engaging shaft 22 firstcounter-clockwise and then clockwise back to home is not included in theinstant disclosure, same of course receives its driving force from theabove-mentioned main cam line 15 of the instant cash register (FIG. 1).

As is apparent to those versed in the art, it is essential that each ofthe totalizer pinions 17 and 18 along the shaft 19 be maintained inproper alignment whenever same are positioned out of engagement with therespective actuator racks 20 and 21 (FIG. 2) and be released from suchalignment whenever same are moved therefrom to an engaging position withrespect thereto (FIG. 3). It is such alignment of the pinions 17(decimal) and of the pinion or pinions 18 (duodecimal) which is the cruxof the instant invention, all being done by an improved aligning member30 as now described.

Improved totalizer pinio'n aligner Looking again to FIGS. 2 and 3, it isseen that the aligning member 30 extends across the upper edges of theinner totalizer frames 28, and is actually interconnected thereto bymeans of a lower extension 30a thereof being embraced by a hookedportion 280 of such frames 28. Hence, it is clear that such aligningmember 30 will be moved along with the inner totalizer frames 28. Asunderstood from FIG. 4, the aligning member 30 is of that length toextend across each of the totalizer pinions carried by the shaft 19,being thus substantially of the same length as the shaft 19 so as toalign each and every totalizer pinion caused to be mounted thereon. Aspring 31 interconnects such aligning member 30- and is effective tocontinually pull same toward the inner totalizer frames 28-that is, soas to yieldingly maintain the lower surface thereof in constant abutmentwith the upper edge of each of the totalizer frames 28.

Looking now to FIG. 5, Where the improved totalizer aligning member 30hereof is shown associated with axially aligned totalizer pinions ofdifferent tooth count, such, for example, as the above-mentioned decimalpinion 17 and the above-mentioned duodecimal pinion 18, it is seen thatthe cross-sectional configuration of such aligning member 30 defines aunitary angle block having an upper and centrally disposed V-shapedgroove 30b extending longitudinally therealong with a pair of opposingslopes 30c extending laterally from the upper extremities of suchgroove. As is illustrated, the longitudinal groove 30b of such aligningmember 30 is effective for tangentially engaging each of the side edgesof one tooth of the decimal totalizer pinion 17, while, at the sametime, the several lateral slopes 300 of such member 30 are effective fortangentially engaging opposing side edges of several alternate teeth ofthe duodecimal totalizer pinion 18. That is, it is to be understood thatmaintenance of each decimal pinion 17 at a set position when not engagedwith its associated actuator rack 20 is effected by a single tooththereof coming to rest in the groove 30b with adjacent teeth thereofremaining free and clear of any contact with the lateral slopes 300',while maintenance of each duodecimal pinion 18 at a set position whennot engaged with its associated actuator rack 21 is effected by severalalternate teeth thereof coming to rest against the lateral slopes 30cwith the intervening tooth thereof at such time positioned free andclear of any contact with the groove 30b.

In applying the just-defined configuration and operation of the aligningmember 30 to the totalizer unit 16 of FIGS. 2 and 3, it is seen thateach and every totalizer pinion 17 and each and every totalizer pinion18 along the shaft 19 will be thereby positively held in its previouslyset position when not engaged with the associated differential actuatorracks 20 and 21, and will be thereby permitted to be rotated freely whencaused to be shifted into engagement with such racks. During this lattertime-that is, during totalizer engagement with the machine carrieddifferential mechanism, the engaging shaft 22 directed movement of therock shaft 25 Within the oblique slots 28b is effective to likewiseraise the totalizer inner frames 28 to some degree, so that suchaligning member 30 will remain in engagement with the shaft 19 carriedpinion 17 and 18 until same actually enter into engagement with theirassociated racks.

Although the present invention is herein disclosed for use with atotalizer unit of the combined decimal and duodecimal type, it isaxiomatic that such invention can be embodied in various other totalizerunits having pinions of approximately the same diameter but with severalshapes or number of teeth, all without any substantial change inconfiguration, mounting, and mode of operation. Also, slight changes mayof course be made in the present invention without actually departingfrom the overall scope and spirit thereof. Hence, it is intended thatthe limitations to such invention be only those which may be imposed bythe following claim.

What is claimed is:

In a machine of the class described having both decimal totalizer wheelsand duodecimal totalizer wheels 0f approximately the same diametersupported rotatably on a common shaft, a unitary aligning memberextending along the shaft and adapted to simultaneously align all of thesaid totalizer wheels thereon, comprising a length of material having acentral longitudinal groove therealong for tangentially engagingopposing side edges of one tooth of each decimal totalizer wheel mountedon the shaft and having those surfaces adjacent said groove opposinglysloped laterally for tangentially engaging at the same time one sideedge of each of several alternate teeth of each duodecirnal wheelmounted on the shaft, the intervening tooth of each such duodecimalWheel being positioned within said longitudinal groove free and clear ofany engagement thereby.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,555,154 9/1925Poole 235 131 1,931,113 10/1933 Muller 235 130 2,113,352 4/1938 McClure235-202 2,285,825 6/1942 Moriarty 235-211 2,322,569 6/1943 De Lancey74-405 X 2,633,669 4/1953 Churus 74-405 X 2,679,357 6/1954 Rosenburger235 91 3,003,692 10/1961 Heuer 235 144 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, PrimaryExaminer.

LEO SMILOW, W. F. BAUER, Assistant Examiners.

